Oh Dearest Dork!
“Alrighty then - first thing’s first, let’s get your hair outta that tie.”
They were out on the street. The lonely, harsh white circles of streetlight touch the ground with scraping, long-nailed fingers. Birds chirp in the lonely distance, out of sight and barely in mind. Skyscrapers reached for the clouds, and fell just barely short. Mist spilled from vents, and a hacking cough came from around the corner.
The empty streets make her feel very small.
Chloe’s hands ran into her hair and pulled out the tie, and she shook it loose. Soft curls tickled her shoulders, and she just barely smiled.
Chloe rooted around in her jean pockets and pulled out a towelette.
“You have a towelette on you?” She mumbled, adjusting one of her dress straps and trying not to stare at Chloe’s eyes. Dappled blue, dark and shimmering, pupils opening like the gaps of lanterns.
Chloe smiled.
“Long story, stranger. Long and embarrassing.” She mumbled under her breath, as she wiped at Max’s cheeks with the cloth. Max repressed the hum of contentment that bubbled in her ribs, and instead kept her eyes pointedly away from Chloe’s face.
Heat tickled her cheeks and neck.
“Is it?” She hummed - and startled a little, because the purr of contentment in her chest had apparently decided to come out in her voice instead, which was definitely a decision she had not okayed.
“And we’re not strangers.” She mumbled, repressing the hum this time.
Chloe grinned, tilting her head a little and getting the last bit of makeup on her face.
“It’s something you said, the first time we texted.” She said, stepping back and inspecting her face like a piece of fine art. “Hmm. Okay, okay. But I think… ah!”
She shrugged the plaid jacket off her shoulders, revealing her bare shoulders to the cold air. She twirled it with a suspiciously practiced movement, and slid it over Max’s head.
Who put her arms through the sleeves almost purely on instinct.
“Mm. Naw, now you just kinda look like Rachel. Except more…”
Max made a little, questioning noise in the back of her throat, still inspecting the jacket on her shoulders.
“It’ll have to do for now, I guess.” Chloe said instead, sticking her hands in her pockets. “Alright, Max. Now that that’s done-”
She stuck out her hand with a grin. Max gave it a startled glance, as Chloe raised an eyebrow at her.
“I’m Chloe Price, at your service.”
Max just stared at the hand for another moment, before holding it gingerly.
“Max Caulfield… happy for your servitude.” She murmured, with a tiny, sly smile of her own.
Chloe let out a single bark of laughter, and gave her yet another sharp grin.
“It’s always the quiet ones. Anywhozits! I do think there be a dark, cold, lonely city to explore!”
Chloe tugged at the hand still in her grip, pulling Max up under her arm. Max squeaked.
“Let us explore, oh dearest dork!” She cried dramatically, holding out her hand and presenting the city beneath her palm.
“...Alright.” She whispered. Her voice wavered - because Chloe smelled like rust and pine, warm as a radiator, and she was going to die.
Was Chloe always like this? Max didn’t think so. She hadn’t seemed quite so insane during their phone conversations.
(She couldn’t bring herself to mind all that much.)